NEWS

  • Advocate for Chicago Public Library at June Budget Roundtables!

    This blog post was written by Local 1215 member Tim Hogan. The Mayor’s Office is hosting a series of 5 budget roundtables this month, and library patrons and workers should make our voices heard. We are asking AFSCME Local 1215 members and supporters to attend one of these sessions. Let the Mayor’s Office know that…

  • Resolution for May 1 Day of Civic Action

    The resolution below was passed at Local 1215’s March 27, 2026, membership meeting, by a unanimous “yea” vote: AFSCME Local 1215 Day of Civic Action–May Day Resolution WHEREAS May Day is rooted in Chicago’s labor history and represents the global tradition of workers organizing collectively for dignity, safety, and justice, and WHEREAS the City of…

  • Let’s Learn about VESSA Leave!

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  • AFSCME Local 1215 Supports the movement to abolish ice

    We, the members of AFSCME Local 1215, affirm our support for the efforts of sibling unions, community organizations, and candidates for political office at all levels that are working towards the goal of abolishing the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Agency. This statement not only endorses the principle of ICE abolition but, further, ratifies…

  • how to request a meeting with your alder

    This post was written by Executive Board-at-Large Member Diana Rocha. Meeting with your alder is not as scary as it seems. Showing up in person to your alder’s office is a great way to show your seriousness about library budgets, and it’s an opportunity to invite library workers and constituents from your home ward to…

  • understaffing at CPL: a Partial history

    Our fight against staffing cuts did not begin with this budget season. The cuts to staffing, security, and services proposed for the 2026 Chicago Public Library (CPL) budget are just the latest event in the ongoing trend of cuts at CPL. This history can get lost when we just think of a budget in relation…

  • Statement against U.S. Aggression on Venezuela

    This statement was written by Local 1215 Executive Board Member Emma Ramirez, on behalf of our membership. The United States’ increasing aggression and possible war on Venezuela is unfounded and unjust. American politicians, corporations, and, regrettably, labor organizations such as the AFL-CIO have a history of interfering in Venezuelan affairs, and this deadly interference has…

  • staff speeches from the budget hearing

    Today, Tuesday, November 4th, our members rallied outside City Hall to draw attention to cuts to the library system in the proposed 2026 budget. We then went inside City Hall, where AFSCME Council 31 hosted a press conference at which three Local 1215 members and two alders spoke on behalf of the library. Those three…

  • stories about understaffing – by category

    Ahead of the 2026 budget season, AFSCME Local 1215’s executive board asked our members to tell us how understaffing affects their work and well-being. Many of these stories are being shared on our Instagram, and you can help pressure the city to support the library by following us and liking, reposting and boosting our stories.…

  • stories about understaffing – by branch

    Ahead of the 2026 budget season, AFSCME Local 1215’s executive board asked our members to tell us how understaffing affects their work and well-being. Many of these stories are being shared on our Instagram, and you can help pressure the city to support the library by following us and liking, reposting and boosting our stories.…